Trent University Mourns the Passing of Professor Emeritus James E. Nighswander
Dr. Nighswander was a member of Trent’s Biology department for more than 25 years
Trent University is saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Emeritus James Edward Nighswander, a respected geneticist and longtime member of the University’s Department of Biology. Dr. Nighswander passed away on December 18, 2025, at the age of 93.
Dr. Nighswander joined Trent University in 1966 as an assistant professor in Biology, during the University’s early years. He was promoted to associate professor the following year and went on to serve as chair of the Department of Biology from 1983 to 1985. He retired from Trent University in 1992, concluding more than 25 years of service.
A scientist with broad interdisciplinary expertise, Dr. Nighswander’s academic background included studies in forestry, plant pathology, population genetics, and bacterial genetics, with education and research experience spanning institutions in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Prior to and alongside his academic career, he held research roles with provincial and federal science agencies, contributing to work in forest genetics and disease resistance.
Beyond the University, Dr. Nighswander was deeply engaged in conservation and community-based research, particularly in the Haliburton Highlands. He played a key role (alongside a group of scientists led by Dr. Orie Loucks) in establishing the Clear Lakes Conservation Area, an internationally recognized reserve at the headwaters of the Trent River. Dr. Nighswander’s scientific knowledge was instrumental in identifying the significance of the area’s meromictic lake varves and its old-growth hemlock forest, helping to secure long-term protection for a landscape of exceptional ecological and research value. He was recognized for this work with the Friend of Haliburton Highlands Award.
At Trent, Dr. Nighswander will be remembered as a dedicated scholar, thoughtful educator, and a valued colleague whose work reflected a lifelong commitment to science, stewardship, and learning. His legacy endures through the students he taught, the research he advanced, and the conservation efforts shaped by his expertise.
The University extends its sincere sympathies to Dr. Nighswander’s family, friends, and all who knew him at Trent.